Tight checks on RI-RP border

AMBON, Maluku: In an effort to clamp down on smugglers, tighter controls will be exercised on people crossing the Indonesian-Philippines border. Commander of Indonesia's Eastern Fleet Task Force, First Adm. Leo Dumais, said here yesterday that the government would require entrance passes for people crossing the border in Sanger district, North Sulawesi.

"Generally they are traditional border crossers because the people of North Sulawesi, North Maluku and Central Halmahera still have blood relations with people from the Philippines," he said as quoted by Antara.

The strict controls are hoped to curb smuggling and other illegal activities. (mds)